Hadley purchase isn’t best choice for Sharon

Terry L. Evans, Sharon

On June 10, Sharon School Board shared a document related to the purchase of the former Hadley Elementary School on Boyd Drive bordering Hermitage. The board is considering buying the building for $252,500; however, they are unsure about future plans for the property.

Why rush to purchase another aging school building? Does our board plan to renovate or rebuild on this property? We cannot afford speculative, unnecessary spending.

The Herald recently reported that several nearby districts are reorganizing buildings to a central campus-type plan to achieve efficiencies and reduce costs. A reorganization of our schools will not be an option for another 10 years because of outstanding bonds on Musser and West Hill schools.

Consolidating buildings may be something our district needs to consider in the future; let’s not take on any long-term financial commitments that will eliminate this option.

If we need to spend more than $20 million for a new school, building it near the Case Avenue school will keep a central campus with our middle/high School as an option in coming years. Let’s not be shortsighted about millions of dollars of debt.

School directors need to think long and hard about locating a school along our border with Hermitage, preventing us from potentially consolidating our schools. Many at the public meeting asked about Case Avenue renovations or a new building, but not a single resident spoke in favor of a new building on the Hadley property or any location other than the Case Avenue location.

Careful deliberation and public meetings will give the board the opportunity to adequately explain to Sharon residents its reasoning for and against the various options; we deserve to hear from the board well in advance of making significant investments. In the absence of such timely and full disclosure by the board, residents will remain skeptical and not provide the board the support it should earn before making major commitments of taxpayer dollars.

At the next public meeting at 7 p.m. July 8 in the high school auditorium, we can let our school board members know that we care about the future of our district.

Sharon should build new school on Case site

Dixie Vasconi, Sharon